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Pit bull quarantined after biting girl in Thunderbolt

A nine-year-old girl was bitten Monday night after she was reportedly attacked by a pit bull.

The incident occurred around 7:15 p.m. near Gilreath Drive in Thunderbolt, according to Thunderbolt police. Authorities said a pit bull jumped a fence and bit the girl on the calf.

A citation for dog at-large was issued to Ahkm Bakon, said Thunderbolt Police Chief Irene Pennington. She described the girl's injuries as "two small puncture wounds," which authorities said were treated.

The dog's owner surrendered the animal to Savannah-Chatham Animal Control, which responded to the scene at about 8:39 p.m., said spokesman Julian Miller.

He said the dog has a record of biting at least one other person in the past.

The dog is currently being quarantined for 10 days at the animal shelter, Miller said.

"The dog was not current on his shots and tags," said Miller.

According to the animal control website, unvaccinated dogs or cats are required to be held at the animal control shelter or a veterinarian's office for 10 full days after a bite. If the animal is healthy following that observation period, it's unlikely to have transmitted rabies during the bite.

The animal can then receive a rabies vaccination after the confinement, according to the website.